Product category:
Vertical machining centres (VMC)
News Release from: StarragHeckert UK | Subject: STC 100 Dixieland vertical machining centres
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 31 October 2003
High spec VMCs machine small aerospace
parts
Compact, high specification vertical machining centres attain high levels of geometry, tolerance and surface finish on aerospace parts, such as blisks, while minimising floor to floor times.
Expanding its world-leading, solution-providing position in five-axis aerospace, power generation, automotive and mould and die type machining, StarragHeckert is launching a new generation of smaller capacity, high specification vertical machining centres The new machine called STC 100 Dixieland, takes full advantage of Heidenhain's latest control technology and CAM-based programming to attain high levels of geometry, tolerance and surface finish while minimising floor to floor times
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 9 Dec 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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VMC has higher rigidity, faster acceleration
Higher levels of rigidity, fast acceleration and rapid traverse rates for spindle positioning and simultaneous five-axis operation feature a modular nachining centre for wet or dry machining.
Available through StarragHeckert UK of Brackley, the STC 100 Dixieland combines an X-axis stroke of 400mm, Y-axis of 220mm and Z-axis of 350mm with a 360 (degrees) rotary A-axis and a swivel axis covering +110 degrees to -15 degrees.
Spindle speed is 40,000 rev/min developed through an 8kW motor and rapid traverse rates are 22m/min with acceleration of 1G from the digitally interfaced AC drive system.
The high productivity five-sided component machining capability of both hardened steel or light materials such as aluminium at a single setting is achieved by utilising a fabricated monobloc machine bed which combines the column to fully support the vertical slideway and spindle motor assembly.
The swivel and rotary axes are both mounted on the longitudinal slide.
This extremely rigid design configuration means special foundations are not required and the onset of vibration is minimised which enables high levels of surface finish to be achieved.
High levels of contouring accuracy can also be maintained throughout the simultaneous five-axis manipulation of the component generated from Heidenhain's latest iTNC 530 control system.
Indeed, the Dixieland STC 100 has been developed specifically for smaller, complex part machining involving features such as helicoidal and pitch surfaces which can be found in pump bodies, single and multi-stage blisks, tool bodies, precision aerospace forgings and are an important feature for blade repair.
Parts of this type require abrupt and frequent changes of feed direction and extensive axis manipulation to optimise the presentation of the machining surface to the milling cutter at high feed rates and with minimal compensation.
Up to 80 tools with a three second change time, can be held in the machine's chain-type magazine and a built-in pallet change option can be specified to maximise machine utilisation.
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